Online Business Degrees 2020

Graduates of an online business degree are able to access a wide range of career options that boast high salaries and strong long-term prospects.

With a degree in business, you can enter into careers such as a business owner, financial advisor, investment analyst, or salesperson. Business degrees provide deep insights into the fundamental aspects of business and management, and give you the skills you need to help build, scale, and maintain organizations efficiently.

Online business school degrees have become popular over the last few years among many learners. These programs help you build your knowledge of business while offering more flexibility and a reduced cost than you would see in a traditional business program.

In this guide, we’re going to break down the top 10 online business degree programs offered by higher education institutions. We’ll discuss the background of each school, their tuition rates, and how each school structures their online business degree program.

Online Business Degree Rankings in 2020

There are a number of top-tier online schools where you can go to get a business degree online. But, how should you choose which program is right for you? Here is a list of the top 10 business degree programs that you can participate in online, which will help you get a better sense of what options are available:

#1: University of Florida

• Degree: Bachelor of Science in Business Administration / Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration
• Tuition: $129.18/credit
• Duration: 4 years
• Credit Requirement: 120 credits

The University of Florida is renowned for its extensive online offerings, and the school offers two business management programs remotely: the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) and Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration (BABA).

As a student in its BSBA program, you’ll take a broad range of online courses that will help you prepare for career opportunities in business. For instance, you’ll cover everything from accounting and economics to business law and marketing. You can also take specific elective classes in areas like business computing.

The University of Florida’s BABA degree, newer than the BSBA program, involves studying the foundation of business alongside another skill. For instance, you could study geology as part of the BABA degree, allowing you to explore the intersection of both business studies and management and geology.

The school offers 10 specializations with this degree, which include sociology, computer and information science, and educational studies.

#2: University of New Mexico

• Degree: Bachelor’s of Business Administration
• Tuition: $359.86/credit
• Duration: 4 years
• Credit Requirement: 120 credits

The University of New Mexico offers a degree completion program for a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) program.

The university’s Anderson School of Management is renowned for its quality and has earned accreditation through AACSB International. This accreditation is only held by 20 percent of the nation’s top business schools.

As a student in its BBA program, you’ll develop a deep understanding of how businesses work. You’ll study courses such as international management, marketing management, principles of accounting, and strategic management. Aside from your core studies, you will have to take four elective courses. These range from data management to logistics systems management.

#3: Rutgers University

• Degree: Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration
• Tuition: $300/credit
• Duration: 4 years
• Credit Requirement: 120 credits

Rutgers University offers an online Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration (BBA) program, taught by its world-class faculty. The program is known for its learning abroad program, which gives online students the opportunity to take an international trip to learn about how global businesses are run. This counts toward credits for the degree program.

The curriculum at Rutgers covers a wide range of business subjects. You’ll learn about microeconomics, financial accounting, ethics and corporate social responsibility, operations management, and more. You’ll also participate in general education classes like English and global communities, to round out your education.

Rutgers’ program also provides students with an opportunity to participate in an internship program. This program confers credits that will count toward your degree. You’ll also be able to work with an executive coach as a student, who will help guide you through managing your workload and study habits.

#4: University of Arizona

• Degree: Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
• Tuition: $560/unit
• Duration: 4 years
• Credit Requirement: 120 credits

The University of Arizona offers a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration at its renowned Eller College of Management.

There are 16 required courses that you must take to major in Business Administration. The courses offered by the University of Arizona’s bachelor’s degree program include microeconomic analysis for business decisions, project management, innovation principles, and business communications.

As a student at the University of Arizona, you’ll be eligible to receive support in building your personal brand and positioning yourself to enter the job market.

This involves comprehensive resume reviews, LinkedIn profile reviews, and interview skills-building sessions. You’ll also be able to participate in internships and work experiences while pursuing your degree program, which will help you gain a better understanding of how real-world businesses operate.

#5: Auburn University

• Degree: Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
• Tuition: $511/credit
• Duration: 2 years
• Credit Requirement: 60 credits

Auburn University offers an online Bachelor of Science in Business Administration program for people who have already started their degrees. If you enroll in this program, you’ll be able to study completely online.

The school’s business degree requires students to complete 23 courses, for a total of 63 credit hours of business work. The courses offered by Auburn University include business law, business analytics, small business finance, principles of marketing, and personal selling.

As a student at Auburn University, you’ll be assigned a student success coordinator who will help you get started in your program, and navigate your way through your degree. In addition, Auburn University was ranked as a top-50 public school by the U.S. News & World Report.

#6: University of Massachusetts at Amherst

• Degree: Master’s of Business Administration
• Tuition: $900/credit

Ranked the number one public undergraduate business program in the Northeast by the U.S. News & World Report, the University of Massachusetts at Amherst offers an online bachelor of business administration degree.

This degree offers a blend of general education courses and business courses which will provide you a blended and well-rounded online education. For instance, you’ll study topics such as accounting, finance, management, statistics, and operations management as part of your degree.

The program allows you to major in one of five subjects, which are accounting, marketing, finance, management, and operations and information management.

#7: Temple University

• Degree: Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
• Tuition: $595/credit

The Fox School of Business at Temple University is not only the largest business school in the Philadelphia region, but it also offers an online business degree program.

Temple’s online Bachelor of Business Administration degree program offers traditional fifteen-week semesters, as well as dual accelerated sessions which allow you to go even quicker based on the time you have available to study.

In the program, you’ll cover standard business topics such as marketing, operations, consumer and buyer behavior, and innovation strategy. You can also major in any one of six subjects, which are accounting, business management, legal studies, marketing, human resource management, and supply chain management. 

#8: The University of Alabama

• Degree: Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
• Tuition: $375/credit
• Duration: 4 years
• Credit Requirement: 120 credits

The University of Alabama, whose 2019 freshman class included 256 National Merit Scholars, offers an online Bachelor of Science in Commerce and Business Administration.

The University of Alabama’s program is positioned to help you enter into any career that requires an understanding of business, from working in advertising to working as an entrepreneur for your own business.

In the course, you’ll study topics such as micro and macroeconomics, business calculus, principles of marketing, strategic management, and organizational theory and behavior. You must also choose one management and one marketing option from a list of electives in these fields to round out your education.

#9: University of South Carolina

• Degree: Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
• Tuition: $375/credit
• Duration: 2 1/2 years

The University of South Carolina offers a degree completion program for its Bachelor of Science in Business Administration programs. In 2020, the school was ranked number one on U.S. News & World Report’s list of “best undergraduate international business programs.”

The university’s program is great if you have completed some classes as part of either a management or accounting major in a business administration degree, and are looking to finish off your studies.

In its business administration-management degree program, you’ll develop the skills you need to work well within a team, manage employees, and communicate information effectively in a business. In its business administration-accounting degree program, you’ll learn about corporate finance, taxation, and other topics that will help prepare you for the Certified Public Accountants exam.

#10: University of Missouri

• Degree: Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
• Tuition: $299/credit
• Duration: 4 years
• Credit Requirement: 120 credits

The University of Missouri offers an online Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA). According to the school, 92.7% of its faculty members are full-time workers and hold doctorates or the highest degree in their field. That’s not all. In 2017-2018, the school disclosed 99 new inventions as part of its research efforts.

The school’s business program teaches you everything you need to know to plan, organize, manage, and direct a business, project, or department. In your studies, you’ll take courses on topics like consumer behavior, corporate finance, accounting, and principles of management. 

In addition, the school offers a 10% reduction in tuition to eligible community college graduates, veterans, military service members, and their dependents who enroll in an online program.

Online Business Degree Offerings

Business degree programs teach skills that can be applied to a great number of careers. You can even use the skills you acquire to help you start your own business from the ground up.

One of the core benefits of an online business program is that they offer more flexibility than traditional programs. You can learn on a schedule over which you have more control, and you can study from anywhere. Many schools also offer financial aid for online programs, which makes them just as accessible as traditional, in-person offerings.

There are four types of online business degrees you can earn. These are:

• Associate’s Degree
• Bachelor’s Degree
• Master’s Degree
• Doctoral Degree

Online Business Associate Degree

Business associate degree programs are focused on teaching practical skills that you can use to manage a business. Whether you want to start your own business one day, or work in a business or management role at an existing business, this degree is a good investment.

Online Business Associate Degree Admission Requirements

To enter into an online business degree program, you will need to have a high school diploma or an equivalent certificate. 

Online Business Associate Degree Curriculum

The curriculum in an online business associate’s degree program offers a mix of theoretical and practical classes that will help you learn about how to support running a business.

Some of the classes you can expect to see in an associate’s business degree include:

• Economics: In this part of the curriculum, you will learn the basics of the economy, how businesses use capital, and how capital flows throughout the world.
• Finance: These classes are focused on learning about how markets operate, what financial instruments are open to businesses to raise capital, and how businesses manage their money.
• Management: These classes explore how to lead a team in an organization and take ownership over a project in a business.

You may also take courses in areas such as sales, marketing, accounting, and human resources, depending on the program you are attending.

Online Business Associate Degree Credit Requirements

Associates degrees in business typically include 60 credit hours of coursework. The degree program may be either an Associate of Science or Associate of Arts program.

Associate of Science degrees are mainly focused on career-oriented skills in business, whereas Associate of Arts programs are usually more general, and confer credits that can transfer to a four-year degree.

Online Business Bachelor’s Degree

Online bachelor’s degree programs delve deep into the fundamental knowledge needed to succeed in the business world. These programs cover a broad range of classes that help students gain a complete understanding of how a business operates, and how different parts of a business—such as marketing and public relations and leadership—work together as one.

Online Business Bachelor’s Degree Admission Requirements

To apply for a bachelor’s program, you will need a high school diploma or a GED. Many programs also require standardized test scores and a resume to be submitted.

Online Business Bachelor’s Degree Curriculum

The courses in a bachelor’s business degree program vary between schools. Here are a few of the classes you can expect to come up in the degree program:

• Economics: This part of the course explores capital markets, how economies work, and how capital flows around the world in depth.
• Finance and Accounting: Students will learn how to understand financial statements, develop business budgets, and how to manage taxation.
• Marketing and Public Relations: This part of the course explores how various advertising and marketing channels can be used to help a business build, maintain, and grow its image.

This degree program may also offer courses in administration, human resources, leadership, communication, and other business-related disciplines.

Online Business Bachelor’s Degree Credit Requirements

Bachelor’s programs in business require students to complete 120 credit hours. It takes four years to acquire enough credits to graduate from this program.

Online Business Master’s Degree

Online master’s degrees in business are more focused on other graduate business programs such as the Master of Business Administration (MBA).

While the MBA program covers a wide range of different business classes, the master’s in business focus more on specific topics related to running a business such as leadership, international business, and cooperation within a business.

Online Business Master’s Degree Admission Requirements

To enter into a master’s degree in business, students must graduate from a bachelor’s degree program. Work experience, either as an intern or an employee, may also be required, depending on the program to which you have applied.

Online Business Master’s Degree Curriculum

The curriculum of an online master’s program varies significantly between schools.

For instance, one program may be more heavily weighted toward organizational leadership, where you will learn about how to be an effective leader and how to manage teams as they grow and scale. Another program could focus more on international business, exploring how to manage an organization that operates in different markets.

Online Business Master’s Degree Credit Requirements

Earning a degree in business at the master’s level usually takes between one and three years, depending on the program. You will be required to take between 10 and 20 classes in order to graduate from this program.

Online Doctoral Degrees in Business

Online doctoral degrees in business explore how to build and run companies efficiently in significant depth. These programs are the next points of progression from a master’s program.

Online Business Doctoral Degree Application Requirements

To enter into an online doctoral degree in business, students must complete a master’s degree. There will also be prerequisite coursework that must be completed in order to be accepted into a program.

Online Business Doctoral Degree Curriculum

There are two types of doctoral degrees that are common in business:

• Doctor of Management
• Doctor of Business Administration

Both of these degrees cover various aspects of business management in significant depth. The Doctor of Management is more suited to people who want to learn about management and working with people in a business, whereas the Doctor of Business Administration is focused more on practical business knowledge that can be applied to any industry.

Online Business Doctoral Degree Credit Requirements

Doctoral programs take between four and seven years to complete. These programs require candidates to complete 60 credits at an accredited university in order to graduate.

What Can You Do With a Business Degree?

Business programs are not focused on any specific career in business. Instead, they explore a wide range of different business-related disciplines. This allows students to build a broad understanding of how businesses work, which can be applied in many different contexts.

There are many different areas in which you can specialize when you graduate from a business program. Here are a few of the career opportunities that you could pursue upon graduating from an online business program:

• Business Development Manager: Business development managers help improve and grow a business through developing relationships with customers, suppliers, and other stakeholders. They plan the positionings in different markets and help address any inefficiencies in a business.
• Business Analyst: Business analysts work with a business to help them plan for the future in line with their goals. They get to know how a business works, what needs it has, and use data to help them make more informed decisions.
• Project Manager: Project managers are responsible for owning a particular project within a business. They need to track work that is to be completed, set deadlines, make strategic decisions, and ensure that projects are running smoothly.
• Marketing Manager: Marketing managers work with different areas of a business to understand their product or service offerings, and then craft attractive campaigns designed to boost sales and awareness of those offerings.
• Financial Manager: Every aspect of a business is influenced by money in some way. Financial managers track the money going in and out of a business and ensure that a company uses its capital efficiently.
• Insurance Underwriter: Insurance underwriters decide if applications for insurance cover should be accepted and what the terms of that acceptance should be. This position involves analyzing and managing risk, and ensuring that an insurance firm is not overexposed to a particular type of risk.
• Stockbroker: Stockbrokers buy and sell stocks, bonds, and other securities for both retail and institutional clients. They will either charge a fee or a commission for their services.
• Corporate Investment Banker: Corporate investment bankers provide financial services to corporations and governments. This includes advising on acquisitions, lending, mergers, Initial Public Offerings, and other significant financial events.
• Retail Manager: Retail managers manage the daily operations of a store or department, and have employees who report to them. These managers ensure that the business is meeting the needs of its customers and that staff are meeting targets.
• Human Resources Manager: Human resources managers develop and implement policies that relate to how the staff is used within a business. They will ensure that all employees are assigned to the right roles, and will ensure a business offers suitable working practices to its staff.

Career Prospects for Business Degree Graduates

Like any degree-holder, business degree graduates have excellent career prospects.

The salaries that you can expect to earn with a business degree vary depending on a number of factors. If you work for a large and established organization, for instance, you may earn a higher salary than you would than if you worked for a local small business. In addition, the area in which you work will influence your salary.

To help you get a better sense of what salaries a business degree can help you access, we’ve collected a few average salaries for top business jobs from Glassdoor. The data we collected is as follows:

• Business Development Manager: $65,937
• Business Analyst: $68,346
• Project Manager: $66,137
• Marketing Manager: $65,539
• Financial Manager: $61,959
• Insurance Underwriter: $46,289
• Stockbroker: Varies between jobs
• Corporate Investment Banker: Varies between jobs
• Retail Manager: $44,032
• Human Resources Manager: $78,377

As you can see, the salaries offered in jobs that require a business degree are impressive. If you’re just getting started in your career in business, your salary will likely be on the lower end of the spectrum, or closer to average.

Once you have acquired some experience working in business, you will be able to earn higher salaries. For instance, the average district manager earns $65,398, which is higher than the $44,032 earned by the average retail manager. For context, district management is the next point of progression in a career in retail.

Do I Need an Online Business Degree?

Committing to an online business degree program is a big decision. This may leave you wondering, “Do I really need to pursue one of these degrees?”

There is no right answer to this question because it depends on where you see yourself going in your career.

If you aspire to work in a business role for a large company like General Motors or Microsoft, having a degree in business will be immensely helpful. Indeed, positions at these organizations are highly competitive, and a large percentage of people who work for these companies will have attained a college degree.

If you want to start a business, having an online business degree can be useful. This is because the program will give you a broad range of knowledge that you can use to build a more efficient business. However, you don’t need a degree in business to start your own enterprise; many successful entrepreneurs, like Richard Branson, did not have a degree in business when they started out.

Conclusion

Online business degree programs provide a deep education in many different aspects of the business sector. For instance, you’ll likely cover topics such as management, leadership, economics, accounting, bookkeeping, and human resources, among others.

The biggest advantage of an online program is the flexibility—you can learn on your own schedule to a great extent. Online degrees are also not location-bound, so you can learn from anywhere in the world.

Do you want to start your own business one day? Or are you thinking about pursuing a career in business at a big company? If so, it’s worth considering whether or not an online business degree is right for you.